ATLAS“You mean, she was poisoned?”I followed him downstairs.“Yes.” He turned around and raised a jar in my faceIt contained red and brown liquid.“This was her urine. We gave her something to make her pass the contents of her stomach oot before they got secreted into her bloodstream. Or before they got to the baby. That fall was serious and we're hoping that it won't cause any more problems.”“What is it?”He brought it closer to his eyes.“I’m not certain yet, but I'll find out. For now, just be with her and call me if anything happens, okay?”“Thank you, Zade. Thank you so much.”He nodded and called someone passing by.“Get me the food tray in Jade's room.”He noticed the questioning look on my face.“I need to get it tested. I need to confirm my suspicion. In the meantime, make sure you and Jade do not eat anything brought to you except by someone you know and trust.”“What? You think someone has gotten to one of your people?”“Yes, which is very unlikely because they had to h
ATLAS“Does Jade have any enemies?”I didn't even know how to answer that question..“She's my wife. That makes my enemies, hers.”I didn't even want to speak about her father. He'd gone off the radar and I doubted that he would know where we were so he wouldn't do this out of the blue.“Because this was personal. They were out to kill her and the baby.”“I'm going to need to summon all your kitchen staff and everyone who set foot in the kitchen this afternoon.”He nodded and stood up.“I’ll come with you.”As we left the office, he spoke to one of the yards stationed outside his office and he left.“Let’s wait for them in the living room.”Five minutes later, they were all gathered in front of us.Zade spoke up first.“As you all know, something tragic happened this afternoon to our guests and we're hoping to find the root of it. One of you poisoned his wife's food and we're hoping to find out why.”There was a light murmur and I spent my time watching the reaction of everybody's fac
ATLASIt had been three days and she still hadn't woken up. I was beginning to get worried.As a matter of fact, I was already fully worried because according to Zade, she was meant to have woken up already.Even he was perplexed.“Or maybe I gave her too much of the herbs.”I looked at him as he said that.“But I was sure of what I gave her. Don't worry, I'll give her something to wake her up and I'm sure it will do the trick.”He left the room and returned to a bowl.I helped him raise a bowl and poured it down her throat. I don't know how she swallowed but the bowl was half empty when we dropped her.“I’ll put the remaining in her IV. She should be up in an hour. I don't want to give her too much because of her condition.”That's fine. As long as she woke up.I stayed with her for a while before Zade came back into the room.“Hey, come out.”I wondered why he was telling me to come out when he could just say what he wanted to.“What’s going on?”He shut the door behind me.“Just be
ATLAS“I’m going to ask you questions and yoore going to amswrt them directly. Any time you make me repeat myself, you will be lashed. Do I make myself clear?”She was in tears.“Alpha, please-”One lash. She screamed and I winced.“Do I make myself clear?”She still didn't answer as she mumbled something under her breath.Another lash.“Yes! Yes, I understand!”Zade looked so unfazed and I was going to tell him not to hit her because she was a woman but I didn't want to put him down in front of his subjects so I didn't say anything.“Are you working alone or you're working for someone?”Her knees were giving way. Those whips looked like they really hurt.“I am working alone.”For some reason, I didn't believe that. This girl didn't seem to be out of her early twenties and doing something as grievous as this didn't seem to be part of her MO.“I don't believe you.” Zade looked at me. “Who are you trying to protect?”“I’m not protecting anyone. I told you I'm working alone.”“And I'm
JADEMy body hurt badly. Especially my waist..I tried sitting up but a sharp pain passed through it so I just lay there.My head hurt, my throat was parched and my mouth tasted funny.What the hell happened this time?I wonder how much memory I'd lost this time.I wanted to call out for someone because I wanted to pee badly and that's when I felt the thing stuck in me.When I checked, I was horrified. Why the hell was there a catheter in me?As I sat there wondering what happened, the door opened and Ray walked in.She looked like she didn't expect me to be awake and I wondered why.“Jade! You're awake!”Her voice triggered something in my head and I felt like chasing her out.I put a hand to my lips as she walked towards me.“Are you okay? When did you wake up?”My throat hurt because of how badly dry it was so I just pointed to my throat and she ran across the room to the dispenser and brought me water.“I just woke up. What the hell happened?”“A lot.”I figured.“Before you tell
ATLASMika was down in the cells because we didn't trust him. He hadn't exactly made any move towards harming Jade hut that didn't mean we should bring him into the house and give him a bed.So while he was innocent, he might as well stay where he can be monitored because he can't be trusted.Feyre was walking in front of me because I didn't know where he was being kept.She just stood there and waited for me to come.“Mika.”It was getting dark so I couldn't really see into the cell.There was movement to let us know if he was actually there.Feyre brought out a flashlight and shone it into the cell.He was lying and facing the wall. He appeared to be sleeping.She turned to the guards. “Bring him here.”“Yes, Luna.”They entered the cell and picked him up, bringing him to stand in front of us.He looked so confused.“What is going on? What have I done this time?”“You have done nothing wrong. We have a few questions to ask and we were hoping you could help.”He burst out laughing.
ATLAS“What are you thinking about?”Andrew joined me on the balcony.“When did you get back?”“A few hours ago. I had to get some rest.”I'd forgotten that I'd sent him back to the nomads to find out about the girl.“Everything about her is pretty basic. There's nothing special..she's just a normal girl named Evelyn. She lives with her family.”“Nothing more?”He nodded.“I didn't find out who Anika was. I followed her everywhere. There was nothing suspicious. She's just a little girl.”Well, that was another option thrown down the drain.“So will you tell me what you're thinking about?”I did want to tell him but I was not in the mood to talk.“Im just wondering who on earth would want to kill Jade.”“What are you talking about?”I forgot he wasn't around when it all happened so I gave him a run down of the two attempts.“What in the world? Who do you have in mind?”Right now, I am trying to think.“I don't know. The only person coming to mind is Damien. I know he hasn't done anythi
ATLASJust as I'd expected, we got home late that day.The sun was almost completely down when we entered the pack. Another reason I didn't mind was because I knew that the market would have been closed already and that would mean that most people would have gone home.It would reduce my chances of being seen by anyone.Ray helped Jade go to her room because she needed to eat and rest.I had a hard time getting Andrew to wake up and he ended up falling asleep on the couch again. I didn't want to disturb him either because I knew that he had been doing so much with me gone.He had handled most of the administrative work without complaining. I knew how packed my schedule was so I knew that he had done a lot of work and gotten little to no sleep.It seemed like everyone in this house needed sleep.First though, I needed to eat something because I hadn't eaten all day.Norman entered the house and I realised that I'd completely forgotten about him.“Norman, come in and sit. I'll get a mai
JADEWe set out early the next day. Thankfully, Palm Springs wasn't a very long flight. All we had to do was just set out early and we'd be there by mid day..This time around, Atlas and I were in one car while Ray and Andrew were in another car. She did want to stay with me so that she would be able to help me out but I wanted her to stay with Andrew.By the time the sun was high in the sky, we had already spent two hours on the road.“So do we know where in Palm Springs we're going?” Atlas asked.I really didn't know. But at least, I felt that we should get there first.If we figured out where we should go the first time, I'm sure we'll figure it out again.“Let’s get there first.”I didn't have to pee as much today. Maybe it's because I didn't eat so much this morning so we eventually had to stop at a restaurant along the way and get some food.Andrew and Ray entered the restaurant after us and we ordered food. I had to take my time to eat because I didn't know if Atlas would want
JADERay didn't think we should waste any more time. The earlier we went to look for answers, we could put an end to the million unanswered questions going through each of our heads.So we used the next day to get ready.Atlas had decided he was coming with me and there was nothing I could say to stop him.“Don’t you want me to come with you? Why do you keep trying to stop me?”I placed my band on his shoulder.“Don’t be ridiculous. That's not it. The reason I'm trying to stop you is because I know that you faced a lot from the elders when you left and that was because of me. It would be selfish of me to ask you to come with me again. I don't even know how long we'll be gone?”He removed my hand from his shoulder and held it.“I don't care. They'll say what they want to say but it still won't change what I want to do. You don't have to worry. You're my queen and you come first.”This man was the best to ever exist.Norman was going to be coming with us too in case anything happened o
JADEWe told Atlas about what we'd found.He listened to us as we sat and narrated everything to him.“And your grandmother never spoke about why she only gave it to her?”Ray shook her head.“No, I thought it was just because she loved her more.”That stung for a reason. Ray didn't look sad but I imagined how she must have felt at that point.“The place where trees are wet giant humans.” Atlas repeated.“It doesn't make any sense to me.” I confessed because I knew he was coming to me next.I brought out a map of the country and placed it on the table.Then I pulled out my phone and searched for all the places relating to trees.As I circled the places that popped up, it didn't make any sense.“Our family doesn't have a tie to any of these places so why would she be talking about them?”Ray came to stand beside me and she looked through each of them with me.“That’s true. It can't be any of them.”Atlas just started at the necklace.“And you're sure you heard her well. Maybe you didn'
JADEWe spent the night together and I'd never felt so happy when I woke up.Waking up in his arms made me feel like a married woman..like I actually had a husband and I wasn't just married in name.We spoke about a whole lot and I just sat there and listened to him while he told me some of the things that I forgot.When it got to the really intimate things, I couldn't believe that I did somethings.I was still asleep when he left and I felt his lips on mine and my forehead, telling me he loved me as he left.“Well, something has you in a good mood.” Ray teased.I didn't tell her what happened. I just nodded.“That’s because I am. What's for breakfast?”She brought the tray around and I stared at it for some seconds, inhaling it and picturing myself eating it. That was the only way I knew if I wanted something or not.The baby seemed to like it too.“So tell me, is it Atlas?”I didn't see any need to deny it.“Yes, it is my husband.”Saying that, knowing that he loves me feels so gidd
JADEIt felt really good to be back home. What I loved the most was my bed.Maybe also the comforting feeling of knowing that I was in my house. It's not like I didn't feel comfortable back there but the fact that it wasn't my home and the fact that there have been two attempts on my life just made me feel like I needed an out.Last night, I slept more peacefully than I have in a long time. It was either I woke up with a headache or I woke up with one pain on my body that I didn't understand.But not today.I felt very refreshed..or maybe it was because I slept till noon.Oh well, I started my day with food. As usual because that was the most important part of my day. Without food,I would be a very angry pregnant woman.Atlas came into the room later to say hi to me. Since we got back, i hadn't really seen him.“I'm so sorry I haven't come to say hi to you. The elders caught me as soon as I got back and I've been working ever since.”Did he ever get rest?“Stop work for a while or sus
ATLASNormally, we were supposed to set out very early in the morning so that we could get to the pack earlier..I hated arriving during the night.But because of Jade, we had to wait till the sun was up. I didn't want to wake her up forcefully so I waited till she was awake.It was almost noon when we finished loading everything up into the car.Zade and Feyre were outside with us.“What should I do with the prisoners?” Zade askedId even forgotten about them. Left to Zade, he would kill them both without caring.“You said you would free Kira once Jade wakes up.”He nodded.“Yes, I will. What about Sophia? What should I do? And don't even say I should set her free. That's not going to work.”Well, I didn't know what to do then.“What do you want to do?”I couldn't say anything.“Do you release her into my care then?”I didn't want to have to take her back with me. It just didn't make sense to take a prisoner from another pack back to mine.“Yes, I do. But don't kill her. Okay?”He did
ATLASJust as I'd expected, we got home late that day.The sun was almost completely down when we entered the pack. Another reason I didn't mind was because I knew that the market would have been closed already and that would mean that most people would have gone home.It would reduce my chances of being seen by anyone.Ray helped Jade go to her room because she needed to eat and rest.I had a hard time getting Andrew to wake up and he ended up falling asleep on the couch again. I didn't want to disturb him either because I knew that he had been doing so much with me gone.He had handled most of the administrative work without complaining. I knew how packed my schedule was so I knew that he had done a lot of work and gotten little to no sleep.It seemed like everyone in this house needed sleep.First though, I needed to eat something because I hadn't eaten all day.Norman entered the house and I realised that I'd completely forgotten about him.“Norman, come in and sit. I'll get a mai
ATLAS“What are you thinking about?”Andrew joined me on the balcony.“When did you get back?”“A few hours ago. I had to get some rest.”I'd forgotten that I'd sent him back to the nomads to find out about the girl.“Everything about her is pretty basic. There's nothing special..she's just a normal girl named Evelyn. She lives with her family.”“Nothing more?”He nodded.“I didn't find out who Anika was. I followed her everywhere. There was nothing suspicious. She's just a little girl.”Well, that was another option thrown down the drain.“So will you tell me what you're thinking about?”I did want to tell him but I was not in the mood to talk.“Im just wondering who on earth would want to kill Jade.”“What are you talking about?”I forgot he wasn't around when it all happened so I gave him a run down of the two attempts.“What in the world? Who do you have in mind?”Right now, I am trying to think.“I don't know. The only person coming to mind is Damien. I know he hasn't done anythi
ATLASMika was down in the cells because we didn't trust him. He hadn't exactly made any move towards harming Jade hut that didn't mean we should bring him into the house and give him a bed.So while he was innocent, he might as well stay where he can be monitored because he can't be trusted.Feyre was walking in front of me because I didn't know where he was being kept.She just stood there and waited for me to come.“Mika.”It was getting dark so I couldn't really see into the cell.There was movement to let us know if he was actually there.Feyre brought out a flashlight and shone it into the cell.He was lying and facing the wall. He appeared to be sleeping.She turned to the guards. “Bring him here.”“Yes, Luna.”They entered the cell and picked him up, bringing him to stand in front of us.He looked so confused.“What is going on? What have I done this time?”“You have done nothing wrong. We have a few questions to ask and we were hoping you could help.”He burst out laughing.